• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Sir Alex Ferguson retired not long after failing with ambitious Man Utd double signing plan

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Published 14:24 24 Dec 2024 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson retired not long after failing with ambitious Man Utd double signing plan

Ferguson was '99 per cent sure' that United would sign Cristiano Ronaldo and one of his old Real Madrid teammates.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the verge of rejoining Manchester United in 2013 as part of a £200 million double transfer but the club refused to make it happen, according to Patrice Evra.

Back in 2013, after he secured the 13th Premier League title of his career, Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it a day.

"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time," Ferguson said at the time. "It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so."

Advert

Ferguson later confirmed that he would have continued as United manager had it not been for the death of his wife's twin sister.

"I definitely would have carried on," he told the Telegraph. "But this time when I told her I was going to retire she had no objection. I knew she wanted me to do it."

More than a decade on and Ferguson's retirement was a subject of discussion on a recent episode of The Obi One Podcast featuring former United defender Patrice Evra.

Evra, who enjoyed seven trophy-laden years under Ferguson, says the Scot was planning on staying around for a while longer, and even attempted to make two marquee signings – Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Advert

When asked if he cried on the day Ferguson announced his retirement, Evra said: "Nearly. It was one of the saddest days."

He added: "I didn't cry but I was in shock. The reason why was two weeks before, he brought me into his office. He said, 'Patrice look at those people. They think I'm going to retire. I'm going to be here for another 10 years.'

"He also said, 'I'm 99 per cent sure we will have Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. I just need these two players to win the Champions League again.' He needed £200 million but the club refused."

Gareth Bale made over 250 appearances for Real Madrid. Image credit: Getty
Gareth Bale made over 250 appearances for Real Madrid. Image credit: Getty

Advert

Evra continued: "I remember getting out of his office. I was thinking, 'Cristiano Ronaldo is back and Gareth Bale [is on his way]. We are back in business after winning the title.'

"Then, one morning, I came back to the training ground and there was lots of paparazzi.

"When we arrived in the dressing room, the player liaison officer said the gaffer wanted to have a chat. It was the first time I'd seen him in his normal clothes.

"He [Ferguson] said, 'Okay guys. I'm going to resign. I've made the decision because my wife has lost a sister.'"

Advert

Evra also described the atmosphere in the dressing room when Ferguson announced the news. "Robin van Persie was crying," the Frenchman added.

"He apologised to Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa. He said he was letting them down after they just arrived but he said it was a personal matter."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Premier League

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    First Club World Cup manager set to be sacked before group stage has even finished and it will cost millions to fire him

    They failed to win a single match in their Club World Cup campaign.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Jack Grealish tipped to join Premier League giants in shock transfer and WhatsApp group could be key

    Grealish looks set to leave Manchester City this summer.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Liverpool fans in disbelief after seeing who the club have appointed as new U21 head coach

    It has been described as a "brilliant" appointment by the Premier League champions.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    The real reason for the centre circle in football and what it's actually used for may surprise fans

    The centre circle has been an iconic part of every football match for centuries, but what is it actually used for?

    Football
  • Sir Alex Ferguson's 'worst ever signing' bought himself out of contract to seal Man Utd move
  • Sir Alex Ferguson named the best atmosphere he's witnessed in a football stadium
  • Roy Keane reveals why he was BANNED from Man Utd Christmas party after brutal Sir Alex Ferguson message
  • Sir Alex Ferguson's 'private stance' on Marcus Rashford revealed amid Man Utd transfer claims